The outskirts of Chang'an.
Xuanzang walked in the front, followed by a group of followers and a carriage carrying scriptures.
He was single when he went there, but when he came back after his success, there were so many followers. Anyone who heard about his legendary deeds along the way couldn't help but praise him with joy. Some people even volunteered to support the righteous Dharma and followed him all the way to Chang'an.
"Holy Monk, Chang'an is ahead."
The attendant beside him pointed to the magnificent city in front and said with a smile,
"Looking from a distance, there are so many people!"
"It seems that they all heard about your deeds, the holy monk, and came to greet you!"
"Chang'an is going to become a Buddhist city! Holy monk, are you happy?"
Xuanzang raised his eyes slightly.
Although it was still a bit far away, he had good eyesight and could indeed see countless people gathering outside the city gate, as if to greet him.
"Why should you be happy?"
Xuanzang clasped his hands together and said softly,
"When a poor monk returns to Chang'an, he will not be happy because someone greets him, nor will he be depressed because no one cheers him."
"The original heart is pure, only the Dharma is joyful."
"Let's go, we have to go back to Xingguo Temple today, and it's only right to put the scriptures we picked up in a good place."
The hardships we have experienced in the past ten years are beyond the imagination of ordinary people.
Xuanzang's heart has long been a rock, unmoving.
"The realm of the holy monk is really high."
The attendant gave a thumbs up and expressed sincere admiration.
The group moved forward again.
The monks of Xingguo Temple, headed by Yuanjing, were already standing outside the city gate eagerly waiting.
Under the summons of Yuanjing, monks from all over Chang'an and even the surrounding capitals gathered here to welcome Xuanzang's return!
It is no exaggeration to say that this is the biggest event in Buddhism in the Tang Dynasty!
Therefore, it must be matched with the largest scale!
But no matter how many monks there are, there are only a few hundred people. Compared with the tens of thousands of ordinary people who participate in free clinics, they are just a drop in the ocean.
"I asked, did Sun Simiao deliberately interfere like this?"
"That's right! If you don't give free medical consultation in the early days, if you don't give free medical consultation in the later stage, but you choose to do it at this juncture, this is obviously..."
"..."
Some monks were whispering, looking quite dissatisfied, even resentful.
All of a sudden, anger started to rise!
"quiet."
Yuanjing said in a deep voice,
"Master Xuanzang is coming soon, please don't talk nonsense."
"Elder Discipline, watch the words and deeds of the monks."
"Yes." Elder Discipline looked at the monks with bright eyes.
Suddenly, no one dared to say anything.
But not speaking does not mean that there is no emotion - many monks are not at such a high level.
In their opinion, Daomen was deliberately making Tiaozi disgusted with them this time!
This place must be found sooner or later!
At this moment, a traveling monk trotted over and said repeatedly:
"Presiding abbot, presiding abbot!"
"Master Sun's free clinic is over! It just ended!"
When all the monks heard this, they were all startled.
Yuan Jing smiled slightly.
"Lao Na said before that Zhenren Sun is a master, how could he use the methods you mentioned?"
He turned to look at the monks and said in a deep voice,
"The reason why you think about others so much is because your hearts are not clean and clear! So the reflection comes out!"
"Repent! Amitabha."
The monks who had been chatting just now looked ashamed.
"Amitabha."
With the chanting of the Buddha's name, all the anger and resentment in the air dissipated.
"Senior Brother Abbot, I have the heart of a villain."
Yuanyin also lost his hatred and confessed,
"Master Sun is indeed a noble scholar. I accept all your punishments."
"...However, there are so many people at the city gate now, shouldn't we take advantage of this last moment to promote it?"
"After all, it was a grand event, and I couldn't bear to just bring it over like this!"
Before, they originally wanted to do some warm-up.
But because Sun Simiao's free clinic "exploded" in Chang'an, they couldn't do anything at all, and they had no intention to publicize it.
And now, Sun Simiao's sudden end of the free clinic left them with a large audience. They could take advantage of the heat to publicize it and hold this grand event again!
When the monks heard his words, their eyes lit up.
Although Buddhism emphasizes that everything is empty, ordinary monks do not have that kind of understanding and have not even read a few Buddhist scriptures. Naturally, they are no different from ordinary people.
Of course I still want to ask for a name.
Yuanjing was also a little moved when he heard the words.
"...Okay, for the sake of promoting Buddhism, let's do it."
He pondered for a moment and agreed,
"However, don't disturb ordinary people. If they want to see it, let them see it. If they don't want to, or if it is slanderous, don't force them to ignore it."
When the monks heard the words, they all agreed and took action quickly.
After a while, the crowd began to flow.
"Master Xuanzang? He came back from Tianzhu to obtain Buddhist scriptures? That's amazing! Is there really a Buddha in Tianzhu?! Let's take a look... and see what this holy monk looks like!"
"His perseverance is so great. I heard that he traveled for thirteen years and overcame countless difficulties before he obtained the true scriptures. You really have to take a look..."
"I didn't see a doctor today, I'm not in the mood... I still have to find a way to stay in Chang'an for a few days..."
"Oh, I'm already here, and I don't miss this amount of time. It's rare!"
"makes sense……"
People in the Tang Dynasty loved to join in the fun. As soon as they heard the legendary story of Xuanzang, they immediately decided to stay and take a look.
Take a few more glances, it can also be used as a source of conversation after tea and dinner!
After a while, crowds began to gather! The people got the news - the holy monk Xuanzang is about to arrive!
The commander who defended the city looked at more and more people, and his forehead began to sweat again...
"Why have you been so crazy these days? I'm so stressed..."
…
Tai Chi Palace, go to the study room.
"Just to make Yi Nan's son a khan is a conspiracy."
Li Shimin looked at Changsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling and said seriously,
"Let the father and son fight!"
"It can be regarded as dividing Xue Yantuo's forces. They have been too arrogant in recent years and have invaded a lot of our territory in the Tang Dynasty. I think I will have to teach them a lesson soon!"
Fang Xuanling was shocked.
"Does Your Majesty want to use troops again?"
He said hurriedly,
"Absolutely not! The Battle of Gaochang has just ended, you need to rest!"
Your Majesty is so warlike! Continuously launch war!
Even if your family has gold and silver, you can't be so busy!
"Haha, I just said that, why are you so anxious?"
Li Shimin laughed and said,
"Just do as I say."
"Also, after the spring of next year, I plan to send envoys to the various barbarians, especially the countries of Xue Yantuo, Goguryeo, Qiuci, and Yanqi, to focus on taking care of them, communicating with each other, and understanding each other."
"What do you think?"
The two looked at each other.
"There is nothing you can't do."
This suggestion is normal and there is no reason to refute it.
But the moment the two of them walked out of the study room, Fang Xuanling couldn't help but said:
"I think your Majesty still wants to use troops..."
"In the past few years, we have destroyed several countries one after another. Although the country is big, it is warlike... ugh."
He was a little worried.
The Tang Dynasty is now very wealthy, but after all, its foundation is still weak, and the total amount is slightly worse than during the Daye period of the previous Sui Dynasty.
Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty could lose all his wealth. If the Tang Dynasty took the wrong path, it would be easy for him to lose money.
"His Majesty has never been a warlike king. He always has his own strategic plan for wars."
Changsun Wuji said,
"Moreover, our Tang Dynasty's tactic is to launch a cavalry raid and directly destroy the country!"
"Think about it, wiping out Tuyuhun and Gaochang was a quick victory? Not only did it not cost much, but we also gained countless trophies."
"The more we fight, the richer we get! How can we lose money like this?"
Fang Xuanling was thoughtful.
"Besides, the current Crown Prince Renyou, I think your Majesty also wants to fight for the Crown Prince through thorns and thorns in his prime, and deal with all the wolves, tigers and leopards."
Changsun Wuji sighed with emotion,
"This Yinan Khan is the biggest jackal around the Tang Dynasty! Your Majesty wants to kill it early to prevent it from threatening the prince in the future."
"This old man is really working hard!"
…
Go to the study room.
Li Shimin stared at the map, but heard a report.
"Your Majesty, Master Xuanzang has arrived in Chang'an."
The chamberlain said.
"oh?"
Li Shimin raised his eyebrows and said in surprise,
"so fast!"
The chamberlain nodded and responded:
"Master Sun's free clinic had just ended when Master Xuanzang arrived. Countless people gathered to watch, and the scene was almost out of control."
"Master Xuanzang expressed his gratitude to the believers and people, and followed the monks from Xingguo Temple back to the temple to settle down."
"It is said that in three days, he will hold a sermon at Xingguo Temple and talk about the authentic teachings of yoga."
Li Shimin nodded slightly.
"They are quite harmonious, as if they had agreed..."
He said,
"It's better to be more harmonious."
After a brief pause, Li Erdang immediately ordered:
"Pass a message to Master Xuanzang to come into the palace and talk about Buddhism with me."
"I really want to know what scriptures he sought in Tianzhu, and I also want to know what state he is in now."
"According to the order." The chamberlain responded and retreated.
…
In the evening, Xingguo Temple.
As soon as the 657 scriptures were placed in the Sutra Pavilion, dozens of monks began to copy the scriptures.
Although they can’t understand Sanskrit, it’s always a good idea to imitate a cat and draw a tiger first!
Only if the copybook is produced as soon as possible can the Dharma lineage be considered stable.
Inside the incense hall.
Xuanzang took a shower and changed into a cassock.
"Amitabha."
Yuanjing put her hands together and said with great respect,
"The Master is truly a majestic treasure. We all admire him with joy."
Hundreds of monks in the hall all put their hands together and saluted respectfully.
Once upon a time, Xuanzang was just a young monk in Xingguo Temple. Although he was somewhat clever and intelligent, he did not have a high status.
At the very least, he was not qualified to be on an equal footing with Yuan Jing.
But now, Tianzhu has returned, and he is already the number one person in the Buddhist world of the Tang Dynasty! All the respected old monks are not enough in front of him! Everyone has to be respectful!
Of course, Xuanzang himself didn't feel much at all. He didn't have the attitude of 'returning rich to his hometown'. Instead, he still treated others with a gentle voice, no different from more than ten years ago.
"Amitabha, the abbot is so complimentary."
Xuanzang also clasped his hands together and smiled lightly,
"How can a poor monk have any treasure? This is nothing more than a skin."
"Yes, yes, you bastard." Yuan Yin beside him responded repeatedly, "The master's realm is really high, maybe he has already realized selflessness, right?"
Xuanzang shook his head.
"The skin is just the skin. There is no need to add the word "stinky". In fact, the skin is the Sambhogakaya."
He said,
"The Mahayana emphasizes the achievement of the three bodies, that is, the realization of the Dharmakaya, the perfection of the Sambhogakaya, and hundreds of thousands of billions of incarnations."
"In Hinayana Buddhism, until the Dharmakaya is realized, the Sambhogakaya is regarded as a stinky bag and does not use the incarnation to save others. Therefore, Tianzhu calls Hinayana Nirvana as its own."
"The Mahayana Dharma that saves oneself and saves others is the way of Bodhisattvas and Buddhas."
When the monks heard this, they were all shocked, and under Xuanzang's narration, they seemed to have some enlightenment.
"Is this Mahayana Buddhism?"
"Then the Hinayana method we have practiced before is all wrong?"
"Master, please help us clear up our doubts!"
A new concept of 'Mahayana Buddhism' really impacted them! Destroy their knowledge!
If we don't establish a right view, all the monks present will fall into the devil's path!
"of course not."
Xuanzang saw that the monks were confused and said calmly,
"The Hinayana Dharma is the foundation of the Mahayana and is the way forward."
"The Hinayana's precepts, concentration, and wisdom are the basis for practicing Buddhism. By observing the precepts, one can have concentration, and by entering concentration one can develop wisdom. Only with true Prajna wisdom can one survey the Dharma Realm and attain the fruit of Arhat, and Arhat can turn to the path of Bodhisattva."
"Bodhisattvas of the Mahayana also need to uphold the precepts and have concentration. They also need to practice the deep Prajnaparamita."
"The Heart Sutra begins with the words, Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva, after walking in the deep Prajna Paramita for a long time, he saw that all the five aggregates are empty and survived all the hardships."
After hearing this, the monks felt relieved.
Hinayana is not wrong, it is just "excessive" and not the ultimate method.
Then they don't have to worry.
Because they haven’t even finished practicing Theravada yet! Who dares to say that he has attained the status of Arahant? In the entire Tang Dynasty, there were not even a few first-level Arhats, and even... very few who could truly meditate and entered the first level of Zen.
"I see."
Yuanjing smiled and saluted Xuanzang,
"Thank you Master for teaching me the Dharma."
"What kind of scripture is the Heart Sutra that Master Shicai talked about? Can you tell us in detail?"
"We respectfully invite the Master to come and give a lecture."
As he spoke, he knelt down and bowed to Xuanzang!
Plop! Plop!
Hundreds of monks all knelt down and bowed to the ground!
They really couldn't wait and wanted to hear the Dharma from Xuanzang now!
"Everyone, please get up."
Xuanzang helped Yuanjing up and said seriously,
"The poor monk will definitely be able to teach the Dharma, but it will take a few days to prepare before we can have a charter."
"Otherwise, if you say whatever you want, it will always be chaos. The poor monk understands, but you may be confused."
"So, let's start the lecture in three days. Let's start from the Heart Sutra. This is also the general outline of all Buddhist views."
Yuanjing nodded repeatedly.
"Okay, okay, I'm in a hurry."
"Mage should take a good rest. You have worked too hard these years!"
"The largest Zen room in the temple has been cleaned for you. You can go and rest first."
Xuanzang nodded.
He was indeed a little sleepy after continual walking.
But at this moment, Yuanyin walked in and said with a wry smile:
"I'm afraid the mage can't rest."
"There is a decree from the palace. Your Majesty invites the Master to come over and talk. He wants to discuss Buddhism with you."
